Re: [Cz-L] Haunted by Czernowitz

Dear Gabrielle & Eduard

It is refreshing for me to read your article at least you are to the point and
not dismisive.

Fred.Weisinger

----- Original Message ----
From: E. & G. Weissmann <EGWeissmann_at_gmx.net>
To: Czernowitz Genealogy and History digest <czernowitz-l_at_list.cornell.edu>
Sent: Thu, 7 October, 2010 10:33:49 PM
Subject: [Cz-L] Haunted by Czernowitz

Dear List members,
We eagerly followed the ongoing arguments of the last couple of days regarding
the degree of historical awareness among the Czernowitz population of today and
its administration. Taking into consideration that the List members have 
different sensitivities regarding a specific Jewish collective memory, it would
probably be better to respect the emotions and evaluate the facts.

In this respect I would like to bring to your attention once again the official
homepage of the city, which is also indicated in Ehpes. Under the chapter
"History" you will find a gap between 1905-1964. This period has been oficially
erased from the history of Czernowitz, and is still the official version of the
city administration until today.
I repeatedly approached the Mayor by e-mail  in 2006 pointing out this  gap and
asking for it to be changed.
The Mayor answered politely asking me to contribute with suggestions and ideas
for the festivities in 2008. No reaction to my request.
Since this is the official policy of the Ukrainean administration, the Bendera
monument, the Chmelnitzky street, etc. are the obvious results
of the official ideology.

The debate about the degree of antisemitic resentments and ignorant indifference
among today's population and the city's administration is
to some degree paniful and will not change the attitude among the gentiles. Fred
Weisinger made a point mentioning that at the moment
of chaotic lawlessness, whenever and wherever in history, Jews were the first
victims of their neighbors, with whom they had lived in
harmony for many decades or longer. This seems to be a historical truth, not to
be forgotten. Whenever in Diaspora history Jews hoped to be accepted,
integrated, having achieved equal rights, there was a terrible awakening. Very
fortunately there is an Israel today.

Certainly, we too have met nice and welcoming people in Czernowitz. We have all
experienced it.
But also not-so-friendly when I wanted to visit my mother's house. They were
probably driven by some vague fears.
At the end of that street, the Morariugasse,  the so-called "Holocaust memorial
plate" (shown today), old,  on a shabby wall, hardly to be seen, on a house in a
deplorable state, and mentions only the Ghetto, not the killings and
deportations.
Let's hope that Czernowitz inhabitants, start to realize nowadays how important
it is for them, for the city, to open up, to find about the
historical truth of their native place which has been deliberately obscured by
the system for so many decades...
Eduard Weissmann and
Gabriele
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Received on 2010-10-07 20:24:10